Former Dolphin QB Woodley dead at 44

Sports briefs

MIAMI - In four years with the Miami Dolphins, David Woodley replaced a future Hall of Famer at quarterback, started in a Super Bowl and lost his job to another future Hall of Famer. Woodley, 44, died of liver and kidney failure Sunday at a hospital in his native Shreveport, La., said his niece, Lucy Woodley. He underwent a liver transplant in 1992.

A former star at Louisiana State, Woodley succeeded Bob Griese as a Dolphins rookie in 1980. He started in the 1983 Super Bowl, which Miami lost 27-17 to Washington. Eight months later he was replaced by Dan Marino, who went on to become the most prolific passer in NFL history.

''David's legacy is that he came in relatively unknown, made our team and helped us win a lot of games,'' former Dolphins coach Don Shula said Tuesday.

Woodley's biggest asset as a quarterback was his mobility. He had a strong but erratic arm, and he threw 42 interceptions and 34 touchdown passes with the Dolphins.

''For a receiver, David wasn't the easiest guy to play with,'' said Jimmy Cefalo, his former roommate. ''He had as strong an arm as anybody I played with. He could throw it through a house, but he didn't have the ability to turn it down a notch. It got so I wouldn't warm up with him before games because he'd hurt my hands.''

Woodley was an eighth-round draft pick who became a starter in Griese's final season, and his 176 completions are still a Dolphins record for a rookie. The following year, Shula alternated Woodley and Don Strock, a better passer but less mobile quarterback, and they became known as ''Woodstrock.''

''It caused some problems for the defenses, because they had to prepare for two different styles of offense,'' Strock said. ''David and I understood what Shula was going to do, and the combination was successful. When you have success, it's hard to beef about it.''

The Dolphins went 11-4-1 that year and won the AFC East. The next season, abbreviated by a strike, they went 7-2 and reached the Super Bowl. Miami led Washington 17-10 at halftime, but Woodley went 0-for-8 in the second half, and the Redskins rallied to win.

Falcons will train at Furman University

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Atlanta Falcons have extended their agreement to hold training camp at Furman University for at least two more years. Furman and the Falcons have signed a contract for the team to use Furman's facilities for the summers of 2003 and 2004, said athletic director Hunter Reid and Falcons spokesman Aaron Salkin.

The Falcons will re-sod and upgrade the Paladins' practice fields. Atlanta has held training camp here for four years. They trained at Suwanee from 1979 to 1998. The Falcons also trained at Furman from 1971 through 1978.

Empire Maker to take on Derby winner again

Empire Maker is a go for the Preakness. The beaten Kentucky Derby favorite and stablemate Peace Rules are expected to arrive at Pimlico next week and challenge Derby winner Funny Cide in the Preakness on May 17.

''Our racing officials were told that both of them were coming next Wednesday,'' Mike Gathagan, Pimlico's director of communications, said Tuesday, referring to the Bobby Frankel-trained colts.

Just after the Derby, Frankel said Peace Rules would run in the Preakness, but he was noncommittal about Empire Maker. With Frankel's powerful pair in what looks like an eight-horse field, Funny Cide's task becomes even tougher. Empire Maker beat Funny Cide by a half-length in the Wood Memorial on April 12, but the gelding evened the score with a 134-length Derby win at odds of 12-1. Peace Rules was third; he has a win over Funny Cide in the Louisiana Derby on March 9.

In other horse racing news, a New York court declined to hear an appeal by trainer Nick Zito about one of his horses who tested positive for drugs at Saratoga Race Course. Zito had asked the state Court of Appeals to consider a $2,000 fine and 15-day suspension from the state Racing and Wagering Board he claimed was too harsh and based on unsupported evidence.

Notre Dame point guard to enter NBA draft

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame point guard Chris Thomas made himself available for the NBA draft Tuesday but didn't sign with an agent and can return to school if he chooses. This season, as a sophomore, Thomas helped the Irish reach the NCAA tournament's round of 16 for the first time since 1987. A second-team All-Big East selection this season, he was second on Notre Dame in scoring (18.7 points a game) and led the conference in assists (6.9). He also had a league-high 142 turnovers.

U.S., FIFA discuss Women's World Cup

ZURICH, Switzerland - U.S. soccer officials presented plans to the sport's governing body Tuesday about hosting the Women's World Cup, which was moved from China because of the SARS virus. Australia also is interested in hosting the event, and Brazil, Sweden and Italy are considering bids.